Mass Battle British 80th Regiment of Foot

First Legion is extremely pleased to present our first expansion to our Mass Battle Series, the Anglo-Zulu War! As we have already done the 24th Foot, we have decided to create the 80th Foot for the Mass Battle Series. The 80th Foot took heavy casualties during the war and played a major role at the Battle of Ulundi, the final battle of the war which finally subjugated the Zulu nation. At this battle the 80th Foot made up the lead face of the large British Square formation and supported by artillery and Gatling guns were able to break the Zulus with withering gun fire and no warriors were ever actually able to make it to melee with the square formation.

INTER-WAR AVIATION

The Interwar Aviation series covers aircraft that were developed and used between World War 1 and World War 2, and was known as the “Golden Age of Aviation.”

In the two decades between the end of World War 1 and the start of World War 2, military aviation underwent a complete transformation. The typical combat aircraft of 1918 was a fabric-covered externally braced biplane with fixed landing gear and open cockpits. Few aero engines developed as much as 250 horsepower, and top speeds of 200 km (120 miles) per hour were exceptional. By 1939 the first-line combat aircraft of the major powers were all-metal monoplanes with retractable landing gear.

THE BOEING P-26A PEASHOOTER

The Boeing P-26 was the first all-metal monoplane mass-produced for the USAAC. The prototype first flew in 1932, and orders were placed for 136 aircraft. The initial order was delivered in June 1934 and, although it had only a short service life, it was to become one of the best known aircraft of the pre-war era.
All P-26 aircraft were withdrawn from front line service when WW2 began, for the USA in 1941. However some remained in service with the governments of Panama and the Philipines. One P-26 is credited with shooting down the first Japanese aircraft during attacks on the islands.
A small number of aircraft were sold to Guatemala and these were still in service there in 1955.

The 17th PURSUIT GROUP in 1935, consisted of the 34th, 73rd and 95th Pursuit Squadrons.

These Boeing P-26’s were the most decorated and famous aircraft of their era. The group developed a style of markings which still allowed each squadron to retain its own identity. The main features to the style were the large tapered fuselage flash repeated in reduced scale on the wheels spats, and scalloped trim to the headrest and leading edges of the fin and tail planes.

The 34th applied their markings in black and white.

The 73rd used red and yellow.

The 95th used blue and yellow.

Each squadron retained their own squadron insignia on the fuselage and carried large ID numbers on the upper decking and belly, the upper number being the individual aircraft number and the lower the squadron number.

These colourful P-26’s were sadly only in service with the 17th Pursuit Group for only a year, after which they were transferred to other groups.

The 73rd Pursuit Squadron was one of the three squadrons of the 17th Pursuit Group at this time. Their colour scheme applied red and yellow fuselage stripes, fin, tail, and head rest scallops and wheel trims. They also followed the practice of the 34th Pursuit Squadron of displaying the squadron number on the fuselage belly and aircraft number on the fuselage upper decking. Radio equipment was still limited during this period, and many aircraft did not have the aerial wires and antennas. These were often reserved for squadron and flight commanders only.

THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918 – German Army

WHEELS ACROSS THE
DESERT

In 1915, Egypt was the centre of the war effort in the near East. Units would strike westwards into the Sahara desert to deal with dissident tribes who were goaded into action by the Turks, or were sent northwards into Gaza to confront the Turkish army itself.
The Sennussi were a warlike Arab religious sect encouraged by the Turks to tie down as many British troops as possible. Model T Ford cars, escorted by Rolls- Royce armoured cars were used to patrol the desert, and to launch daring raids against the Sennussi.
The most important British armoured car of the first World War was undoubtedly the Rolls-Royce. In terms of the numbers built, effective design and all round quality it was unequalled, and is now taken to typify the vintage armoured car.

The Hedjaz Armoured Car Section, was an unit of three Rolls Royce armoured cars, which operated alongside the irregular forces inspired and guided by T.E Lawrence. This unit also acted independently and mounted long range raids, such as the succesful raid against the Amman railway bridge in September 1918.
The armoured cars earned Lawrence’s respect for their reliability and effectiveness, and in his “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” he mentions that “a Rolls in the desert was above rubies”.

THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

The United States of America declared war against Germany and the Central Powers on 6th April 1917. Spurred by the slogan “First to Fight” there was a rush of recruits into the Marine Corps. The newborn Marine Corps Reserve, mobilized on 16 April, contributed three officers and thirty-three enlisted men. The recruit depots at Parris Island and Mare Island were soon swamped, and temporary recruiting centers had to be opened at Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Norfolk Navy Yards. On 14 May, six thousand acres were leased at Quantico, south of Washington, as the beginnings of a major new base.

Maj. Gen. Cmdt. George Barnett was determined that a Marine expeditionary force would be on board the first convoy to sail for France. On 29 May, President Wilson approved the sending of a Marine regiment equipped as infantry. The stipulation was that the Marine regiment be organized and equipped according to the new wartime tables of organization developed by the Army. Marine regiments were small units of about eight hundred to a thousand men, a collection of numbered rifle companies of about 100 men each.
The companies would have to be brought up to a strength of about 250 men and organized into battalions and then into regiments, with machinegun companies added.

Provincial Regiments 1759

French Militia 1759

For the campaign of 1759 the militia companies were amalgamated into 3 brigades by region of origin. They wore the knitted “tuque” or stocking cap typical of the French habitant, in different colours according to their brigade. Red was for Quebec, White for Trois Rivieres, and blue for Montreal.

jjDESIGNS 10th
ANNIVERSARY – Jacobite Rebellion

Nine new Jacobite Rebellion figures will be released over the next few months,
and a set of 10 of the older Jacobites will be offered as a Booster/Starter set. This set will only be offered for sale to dealers until the end of JUNE, or until stock runs out.

Rome

The 9th Hispana Legion were based in mainland Europe before moving to Britain following the Roman invasion in AD 43. Sometime after 108 AD the legion disappeared from Roman records with some speculation that they were wiped out in Northern Britain. The 9th found fame in the novel ‘Eagle of the Ninth’ published in 1954 in which the Legion marched into Scotland “never to be heard of again.”

WWI

The Freikorps had been in existence in Germany for some time prior to WW1 but really came into their own post WW1, following the introduction of the Weimar Republic which was beset with problems notably from the Communists in the form of the Spartacist League. The Freikorps were instrumental in putting down many Communist uprisings often with brutal results, particularly in the Baltic states where thousands of suspected Communists were executed. Many prominent Nazis were members of the Freikorps including Rohm, Himmler and Ehrhardt which is why the Freikorps are often seen as a precursor to the Nazi party. We have 3 sentry style figures to kick off this series, with another 3 scheduled to follow later including a Communist prisoner. The A version come in German Stormtroop uniforms suitable for late
WW1 and the B version come in Freikorps uniform markings

War in the Pacific

AF036 — U.S. Marine Corps Jeep
— Some of you may have seen this useful airfield vehicle on our publicity pix for “Pappy” Boyington’s F4U Corsair… Well, here it is in person and ready for duty on any Pacific Island airstrip.. Mud and dust-covered it has a “Campaign-hat-wearing-Leatherneck” at the wheel.

AF037 — The Sheep Pen Tent — The standard U.S. Military Tent of WW2 and beyond. Perfect as part of the background for your F4U Corsair or on any battlefield or barracks whether its the Pacific , Europe, Korea or even… Vietnam!!!

The Royal Navy in the Tropics

Back in the days when Britannia ruled the waves and a quarter of the world map was still painted pink the Royal Navy and its sailors served in many of the globe’s hottest spots. When serving and sailing in warmer waters the Navy adopted “Tropical Whites” for all officers and men.

Here in Hong Kong, pre 1997 and the Chinese hand-over, British sailors most often wore “Tropical Whites” when on ceremonial duties or “going ashore”.

Supreme Allied Commander

Over the years it has been popular, in some quarters, to question and complain about the military qualities and abilities of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of all Allied Forces in Europe from before D.Day until the end of the “German War” in May 1945.

K&C firmly believes this to be wrong! No other commander (British or American) had the skill, patience and overall understanding of what was required and necessary to hold the coalition together and forge a fighting force that ultimately helped defeat Hitler’s armies.

Over the years we’ve produced two other miniature portrayals of “IKE” and now we’re happy and proud to produce three more… in a choice of uniforms.

DD284 — Eisenhower wearing IKE — Here, the General is seen wearing the short, battledress-dress style jacket (modelled on the original British one) that he had specially tailored for himself in London when he took up his European command in 1943.
In this version his “IKE” jacket, as it came to be known, is tailored in the same chocolate brown material as the regular U.S. Army officers’ issue uniform of the period. When this colour of jacket was worn it was usually teamed with the “pink”( more beige khaki actually) trousers of the standard officers’ uniform.

DD291 — D.DAY IKE — Here is the General wearing the standard U.S. Army Officers’ Uniform combination of full, four-pocketed jacket, again with a pair of “Pinks”.
Behind the General’s back he holds a sets of plans for the upcoming “Operation Overlord”, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

DD294 — Texas Toy Soldier Show “IKE”/span> — Special Note: A “third” General Eisenhower is being specially issued for the 10th. Texas Toy Soldier Show.
This particular Texas Show “Ike” is wearing the all-olive drab jacket and trousers uniform which the General also wore before and after D.Day. Just 200 pieces of this” Texas” version are being produced.

APACHE TERRITORY

It’s fair to say that “The Apaches” proved to be one of the finest and fiercest opponents of the U.S. Army during the “Indian Wars” that followed the end of the Civil War.

From 1865 until the mid 1880’s the various tribes that made up the Apache Nation fought a long and skillful “guerilla” campaign throughout the Southwestern part of the U.S.

Although their numbers were never large they spread fear and terror throughout Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Colorado wherever they raided and fought.

Never operating in large numbers (like the Plains Tribes) they were particularly adept at ambushes, skirmishing and then disappearing into nowhere as the U.S. Cavalry found out time and time again.

Here are the first few examples of a great new range of Apache warriors…

TRW090 — “Geronimo”, The Apaches — A mounted figure of probably the greatest Apache Warchief “Geronimo was a “Mescalero/Chiricahua” born in 1829. He was a superb leader in raiding and revenge attacks on both Mexican and American interlopers… In truth, he harboured more hatred for Mexicans who had killed many of his extended family during this time.

TRW091 — “He’s Dead!”, The Apaches — One of the hated “Longknives” lies sprawled at the feet of this Apache Warrior. His cartridge belt and revolver will find a new owner! (2 figures)

TRW095 — “Kneeling Firing”, The Apaches — As ammunition for their rifles and pistols was always in short supply each Apache rifleman had to make every shot count… They were accurate marksmen, far better than the average U.S. Cavalry trooper!

The Duellists

Director Ridley Scott’s first feature film “The Duellists” is, in my opinion, one of the finest and most authentic historical films ever made!

The attention to detail of the period (1800-1815) is second-to-none in the uniforms, the attitudes and even the changing hair-styles of the two main protagonists.

The story is centred on a series of duels that take place between two French Hussar officers during the last 15 years of Bonaparte’s reign.

Everything about this small, intimate movie (it cost less than USD$1 million to make) is exceptional – the military costumes, the settings, the actors (including Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine) the script and the music is simply superb! Please see it… and you’ll see what I mean.

NA349 — The Duellists Set#1 — Gabriel Feraud (7th Hussars) is a violent and fervent Bonapartist who loves to seek out trouble and fight duels.Armand D’Hubert (3rd Hussars) is serving on the staff of his general and is sent to reprimand Feraud on his latest duel where he has almost killed the nephew of an important local town official.Feraud is mightily offended and forces the first of several ongoing duels onto the hapless D’Hubert, who he believes, is “victimizing” him!Here, both officers are about to begin their first duelling encounter in the courtyard of Feraud’s lodgings… D’Hubert in his 3rd Hussars uniform minus his dolman and sabretache of course and a similarly attired Feraud of the 7th Hussars.

LIGHT GERMAN ARMOUR

WH049 — Sd.Kfz250/11 Panzerbuchse 41 — This lightly armoured halftrack mounting a 2.8cm gun was intended to be a close-support, anti-tank weapon for motorized infantry.The first examples reached German units on the Eastern Front early in 1942. Although an interesting development it never achieved major success because of the low effective range of its 2.8cm gun. It remained in production for just one year.However, as a representative German model of the war’s mid years… it’s a great little addition to any WW2 German collection.

Pike & Muskets &
Cavaliers

A few select additions to this colourful and unique range that covers “The English Civil War”… The Thirty Years War and even the novels of Alexander Dumas and his “Three Musketeers”…

PnM055 — Cavalier Ready, English Civil War — A mounted Royalist trooper in the army of Charles I. Our man holds his “Musketoon” at the ready. “Musketoons” were short-barrelled versions of soldiers’ muskets first carried by sailors and pirates and later adopted by cavalry as they were easy to carry (suspended by a spring hook on a cross belt) and to shoot while mounted.

PnM057 — Royalist Trumpeter, English Civil War — This richly and colourfully-garbed cavalryman would, on his officer’s command, sound the different trumpet calls that would let the regiment of horse know what was required of them during the “din of battle” or the many manoeuvers on parade or even while on the move. Most trumpeters would also ride a white steed, the better to be seen by both officer and men.

SETTING THE SCENE

Battlefield and Diorama accessories go a long way to helping collectors bring their displays “alive” and adding an extra dimension to any collection.

Here are some great new pieces…

Special Note: As you can see we are offering these architectural items in both

“Sandstone” and “Greystone” colour finishes.

SP072 — “Four Lions Town Fountain (Sandstone)” — This handsome ‘sandstone’ ornamental structure is a prefect centerpiece for any European-style village or town square. Historically it can be used for displays for a wide range of different eras from Ancient Greece and Rome all the way up to the present day.Dimensions: 11.5(L) x 11.5(W) x 8.8(H)cm